A popular public school principal is dead following a mysterious shooting that has shocked a quiet Georgetown neighbourhood.

Debra Allen, principal of Beatty-Fleming Senior Public School in Brampton, was killed after shots were fired in her Hillside Dr. home on Saturday afternoon. Her husband, Dave Allen, also died in the apparent domestic dispute.

The Special Investigations Unit is investigating and has refused to disclose any details, but students, friends and colleagues could not contain their grief Sunday.

“It’s an incredible loss for the students and staff. She’ll be sorely missed,” said Brian Woodland, communications director for the Peel District School Board.

An avid athlete, Debra Allen started a running group and flipped pancakes once a week for the school’s breakfast club, he said.

The school will fly the flag at half-mast and bring in a critical response team Monday to help students and staff cope with the tragedy.

The shooting has gripped the peaceful, tree-lined block where gunfire rang out at about 2 p.m. Saturday.

Nearby resident Mike Hall was indoors when he heard gunshots. He ran outside and saw a woman sprinting up Hillside Dr., screaming.

“She was frantic,” he said. “She was hyperventilating, like she was in shock. She just said, ‘My friend has been shot, you have to help her.’”

She told him she was accompanying Debra Allen home when they were confronted inside the garage and shots rang out, he said.

Phil Adams, who lives across the street from the Allens, also heard the shots and saw the woman run from the garage.

Police arrived soon after and blocked off entrances to the street, surrounding the home on foot, Adams said.

“They were calling out to him, ‘Dave, it’s not too late. We can help you,’” he said.

The distraught woman went inside a nearby home. About an hour later, the garage door opened suddenly and shots were quickly fired, Adams said.

Neither Adams nor Hall say they saw who fired the shots. Police remained outside for about 20 minutes before an emergency task force team entered the home, Adams said.

Halton Regional Police said the SIU took over the investigation Saturday evening, but provided no further details. The SIU investigates incidents where there has been any interaction involving police that results in death, injuries or allegations of sexual assault.

Property records show that Dave and Debra Allen bought the home five years ago. Neighbours said they did not know them well, but said they were friendly, enjoyed gardening and had adult children who did not live at home.

Dave Allen worked as a custodian at a nearby seniors home, the Gallery Bennett Village.

His employer, Gary Zock, said he hired Dave Allen three years ago and he was popular with staff and residents.

“It’s just tragic,” he said. “He was a happy-go-lucky guy who always had a joke to tell you. He always looked on the positive side of everything. There was no indication that anything was wrong.”

On Sunday, the Peel District School Board posted a letter to parents online about Debra Allen’s death, offering information on how to help children cope.

One parent broke down crying as she spoke about the popular principal.

“Nothing was beneath her . . . she was just one of the team. She’d roll up her sleeves and be a team player,” she said. “I think that’s why she was so well respected.”

Ryan MacCormack, 15, said Debra Allen was his principal for three years and they remained friendly after he graduated.

“I had a type of respect for her in the fact that she was my principal and… she was really strict but when it came down to it she was nice and she was pretty reasonable,” he said.

He was among dozens of students mourning Debra Allen on social media Sunday night.

Tahjah Gayle, a Grade 8 student at Beatty-Fleming, learned about her principal’s death from other students on Facebook, she said.

“I’m still shocked about what happened, it’s hard to believe,” said Gayle, 13.

She said she was used to seeing her principal every morning, holding open school doors to let students in.

“She was kind of different (to other principals). The way she talked to us was so friendly and welcoming,” she said.

“It’s going to be so different not seeing her open the doors for us to go in … It’s going to take some getting used to.”